AVP faction leader Jennifer Arends-Reyes has responded to recent public questions regarding procurement instructions issued by the Ministry of Education. The discussion centers on whether urgent educational supplies were procured without a formal public tender process, raising concerns about administrative transparency in Aruba.
Arends-Reyes explained that under the revised Accounting Law implemented in January 2026, formal public tenders are not obligatory for sums between 25,000 and 200,000 Aruban Florins. Minister Croes previously clarified that given the financial limits involved, a standard public tender was not strictly required, though the ministry must still justify its actions.
“Transparency and good governance are fundamental in a democratic country. The people of Aruba have the right to know how decisions are made,” Arends-Reyes declared. Despite this, she stressed that the continuity of education must remain a priority. She noted that the law specifically contemplates exceptions for extraordinary situations where urgency demands immediate action to prevent service disruptions.
Regarding the specific procurement of materials for Papiamento and Dutch language instruction, Arends-Reyes pointed out that the exemption was appropriate given the amounts were below the legal threshold. She concluded by urging a balanced approach: “I am completely pro transparency, but I am also pro progress. The government must be able to act quickly when the situation demands it, but always with clarity and responsibility.”
